The
Brownfield Opportunity Areas (BOA) Program
provides expertise and funding to
municipalities and community organizations
to prepare revitalization plans and
implementation strategies for communities
affected by brownfields, abandoned
properties and economic distress.
Brownfields are dormant properties where
contamination has impeded redevelopment,
making them an economic and environmental
drain on localities. Key program
outcomes include a community
revitalization plan including
redevelopment plans for strategic sites,
public and private investment priorities
for necessary improvements and shovel
ready sites. By identifying and
establishing strategic sites and
investment priorities, areas can be
revitalized more quickly.

The BOA Program provides an area-wide
approach, rather than the traditional
site-by-site approach, to brownfield
assessment and redevelopment. The
area-wide approach enables communities to
comprehensively assess existing economic
and environmental conditions associated
with brownfield blight and impacted areas,
identify and prioritize community
supported redevelopment opportunities and
to attract public and private investment.
The BOA approach is being used by
communities to attract new uses and
businesses including housing and retail,
commercial, manufacturing, business
incubators and public amenities such as
parks or trails.

Program grants support a variety of
community revitalization activities,
including public participation processes;
existing conditions analysis; economic and
market studies; investigations to assess
site contamination and environmental
conditions; site-specific redevelopment
plans; environmental impact assessments
and statements; marketing to attract
developer interest; local law changes;
architectural and streetscape design
guidelines; and other actions to spur
investment in, clean-up of and
redevelopment of brownfield sites.

Eligibility

New York State
municipalities which are defined as:
cities; villages; towns; counties; local
public authorities or public benefit
corporations; school districts; special
improvement districts; and Indian nations
or tribes.

Community based organizations which are
defined as: not-for-profit corporations
that are incorporated under Section 501
(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code whose
stated mission is to promote community
revitalization (reuse of brownfield sites)
within the geographic area in which the
community based organization is located;
has 25 percent or more of its Board of
Directors residing in the community in
such area; and represents a community with
a demonstrated financial need as indicated
by high unemployment, low resident
incomes, depressed property values, and
high commercial vacancy rates.

Two or more eligible applicants may, and
are encouraged to, submit a joint
application.

Contact

Peter WalshNYS Department of State
Division of Coastal Resources
41 State Street
Albany, New York 12231
(518) 474-1845